Tommy Asher

Thomas Asher (21 December 1936 – 11 March 2017) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Notts County. He also played for Peterborough United, Ilkeston Town, Ransome & Marles, Grantham Town, Eastwood Town, and Keyworth United. Tommy represented England Schoolboys during his youth and played alongside Manchester United's Duncan Edwards.

Early life Asher was born on 21 December 1936 and was raised in Dunscroft, Yorkshire. Due to the sheer brilliance of rival inside forward Dennis Emery, Asher struggled to forge a first-team position, so they competed frequently for the reserves. He was described as "a clever little player who certainly knew how to score," he showed that during his only season for the Posh when he scored 30 goals. He was a prolific goal scorer for the reserves and even scored 4 goals in one match against Harwich & Parkeston on 10 October 1959 in the Eastern Counties League.

He made two first-team appearances for the Posh, the first a 2–1 loss against Ashington. Asher kept his place for the next Posh game, away at Spennymoor Town, which Posh won 3–1. However, it proved to be his final first-team game for the club as he left at the end of the season to join Ilkeston Town.

Ilkeston Town After spending just one season at the Posh, he returned to Nottinghamshire to join Ilkeston Town in the Central Alliance League in 1960. He joined up with the squad just before the start of the 1960/61 season and scored the winning goal on his debut in an away win against Nottingham Forest. His footballing artistry was seen firsthand but not frequently enough, which resulted in his release in 1961. His final appearance was against Sutton Town on 14 October 1961. Asher went on to appear for Ransome & Marles, Grantham Town and Eastwood Town before playing for his final full-time club, Keyworth United, in 1966.

Personal life In 1957, at the age of 21, he married Glennis May Asher. They had three children together: Neil, Tracey and Sally. Their children are Tom, Poppy, Milly, Charlotte, Alex, Jack and Katie. Towards the end of his life, he became a great-grandad to Kieran and Evie-May.

Death Tommy Asher died at 80 on 11 March 2017 in his home in Gotham, Nottinghamshire.